Pneumatic straw-stacker



2 Sheets-Sheet 1f,

' (No Model.)

W. J. RANDOLPH. PNEUMATIC STRAW STAGKBR.

No. 597,364. Patented Jan. 11,1898.

l I I r Wifgzsszs UNITED STATES PATENT @rricn.

IL-LIAM J. RANDOLPH, OF JENNINGS, LOUISIANA.

PNEUMATIC STRAW-STACKER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 597,364, dated January11, 1898. Application filed August 14, 1896. Serial No. 602 80 1. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that LWILLIAM J. RANDOLPH, acitizen of the United States, residing at Jennings, in the parish ofOalcasieu and State of Louisiana, have invented a new and usefulPneumatic Strau Stacker, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to pneumatic strawstackers; and it has for itsobject to provide a new and useful stacker of this character used as anattachment for an ordinary grainthreshing machine to provide simple andeiiicient means for receiving the threshed straw from 'the rear end ofthe thresher and dis charging the same onto the stack by a blast of air.

To this end the invention contemplates a construction of stacker havingevery adj ustment necessary for the proper distribution of the strawonto the stack and so arranged in connection with the rear end of thethresher as tosave all grain worked out of the straw and prevent thegrain from being blown out with the chaff and threshed straw. I

l/Vith these and other objects in View, which will readily appear as thenature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in thenovel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinaftermore fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of therear portion of a grain-thresher equipped with a stra'wstackingattachment constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is aplan View, partly in section, of the same construction as illustrated inFig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged verticalsectional view of the gimbal-jointconnection between the delivery-neck of the discharge-spouts and theinner end of the stacking-tube. Fig; 4 is a detail sectional view on theline 4 4: of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail in perspective of the innerflared end of the stacking-tube.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1 designates thecasing of a grainthreshing machine of any approved construction andhaving therein the usual straw-carrier 2 for delivering the threshedstraw at the rear end of the machine, and directly below thestraw-carrier 2 at the rear end of the machine-casing 1 is arranged theusual riddle or sieve 3 for cleaning and grading the grain in theordinary manner. In conjunction with the riddle or sieve 3, within therear end of the thresher, is employed the usual return-conveyer 4:, andbelow the extreme rear end of the straw-carrier 2 and beyond the rearend of the riddle 3 the thresher-casing 1 has built therein a grainpocket or trap 5, inclosed at its outer side by the cant-board 6, whichserves to catch some of the grain blown directly over the conveyer 4 anddirect the same into the bottom of the said pocket or trap. At theextreme lower end of its inner side wall 7 the grain pocket or trap 5 isprovided with a self opening and closing trap-door 8, hinged at itsupper edge, as at 9, to the inner wall 7, and said trap-door S is heldnormally closed by the suction existing within the rear end of the.thresher-casing, so as to retain within the pocket or trap 5 the grainwhich falls therein until the grain accumulates in sufficient quantitiesto open the door 8 and dribble out or drop onto the ground or into asuitable receptacle that may be provided to receive the grain collectedwithin the said pocket or trap. Arranged above the grain pocket or trap5 and between the rear end of the straw-carrier 2 and the riddle 3 is anadj ustable grain-deflecting board 10, hinged at its upper edge, as at11, within the threshercasin g and adapted to be adjusted on its pivotby any suitable means from the outside of the machine-casing. Thegrain-deflecting board 10 serves to catch most of the grain flying offof the riddle 3 and deflects the same down into the pocket 5 or againstthe cant or return board 6 thereof, and said grain-deflecting board 10therefore serves to prevent the grain from being blown by the blast fromthe thresher-fan into the transverse straw-chamber 12, termed at theextreme rear end of the thresher-casing 1 beyond the delivery end of thestraw-carrier 2 and above the plane of the grain pocket or trap 5. I

The straw-chamber 12 at the extreme rear end of the thresher-casingl isinclosed at its outer side by the outer circular end wall 13 of thethresher-casing, and said outer circular end wall 18 is contractedtoward the sides of the threshercasing to produce a central widenedportion 14, the function of which portion of the wall 13 will bepresently referred to. At opposite ends of the transverse straw-chamber12 the opposite sides of the thresher-casing have fitted therein theinner sides of the circular fan-casings 15, that are supported inposition by supporting-sills 10, arranged at opposite sides of thethreshercasing and suitably fastened thereto. The opposite circularfan-casings are suitably connected with the sills 16 and are ofiset fromthe sides of the thresher-casing, so as to have their inner sidesproject but aslight distance within the opposite sides of thethresher-casing, thereby leaving only a narrow curbing within thethresher-casing, on which the straw cannot accumulate to any extent,which would be the case if the fan-casing was set entirely within thecasing of the threshing-machine.

The oppositely-located fan-casings 15 are provided in their inner sideswith the enlarged inlet-openings 1'7, communicating with the interior ofthe straw-chamber 12 and sufficiently large to receive therethrough allthe straw that the fans are capable of drawing into the fan-casing. Thefan-casings 15 have arranged for rotation therein the circular rotaryblast-fans 18, essentially comprising a circular group of fan blades 19,having the arms 20 thereof suitably attached to the single transversefan-shaf t 21. The single transverse fan-shaft 21 carries both of thefans 18 for the opposite fan-casings, and, extending longitudinallythrough the straw-chamber 12, projects at its opposite ends through theouter sides of the fan-casing and is j ournaled in suitable bearings 22,arranged on the supporting-sills 16 for the fan-casing. The saidfan-shaft 21 is provided at one or both ends with the belt-pulleys 23 toreceive a drivingbelt 24, driven from one of the shafts of thethreshing-machine.

The fan-blades19 of the oppositely-located rotary fan are provided withinner inclined edges 23, flaring toward the inlet-openings 17 of thefan-casings and serving to direct the straw out toward the outer ends ofthe blades 19, so as to carry it directly into the draft or blast of thewind and at the same time prevent the straw from a tendency to wraparound the shaft and the blade-arms of the fan, and at the inner sidesof the rotary fans are arranged the oppositely-located conicalstraw-deflectors 24; The conical strawdefiectors 24 are fitted onopposite portions of the shaft 21 and have their widened or flared endsprojected into the fan-casings, so as to abut against the inner sides ofthe blades of the rotary fans. In this position the conicalstraw-deflectors 24: serve to start or deflect the straw out toward theouter ends of the fan-blades and prevent it from wrapping on the arms ofthe blades.

At an intermediate point between the op positely-located fan-casings androtary fans therein the transverse fan-shaft 21 has mounted thereon astraw-distributer 25, substantially comprising a plurality of straightdistributing-arms 26, suitably connected with tl1 e shaft 21 andextending radially therefrom.

The shaft rotates the distributer 25 within the central widened portion14 of the strawchamber 12, and this widened portion 14 of thestraw-chamber 12 allows the distributingarm 26 to be made longer thanthe fan-blades, so as to extend close to the discharging-point of thestraw-carrier 2 and pull the straw into the suction of the oppositefans. tributer 25 not only serves to draw the straw into thestraw-chamber, but at the same time agitates or shakes the straw toprevent the same from piling up between the fans and choking the same,thereby keeping the straw at all times sufficiently loose to be readilycaught up by the fans and forced thereby through the discharge-spouts 27of the fancasings.

The discharge-spouts 27 are connected at their inner ends with theperipheries of the fan-casings, so as to receive the blast of air andstraw impelled rearwardly by the rotary fans, and said discharge-spoutsconverge rearwardly and merge at their outer adjacent ends into a commoncylindrical delivery-neck 28, the spouts 27 being preferablysquare orrectangular in cross-section. Normally the discharge-spouts 27 and theircommon deliveryneck 28 are disposed at an inclination to provide for theproper discharge of the straw onto the stack, and said delivery-neck 28is pro vided at diametrically opposite sides with the ofl standing sidepivot-studs 29, which form horizontal pivots for the pivotal j oint-ring 30, loosely encircling the neck 28 and having a pivotal or swingingmovement on the horizontal pivots 29. The pivotal joint-ring 30 isprovided atdiametrically opposite upper and lower sides, at right anglesto the pivot-studs 29, with the upper and lower pivot-pins 31, havingcross-pieces 3 to hold in position the inner flared end 33 of theinclined vertically and laterally swinging stackingspout 34, which is ofany desired length and provides for delivering the straw directly ontothe stack. The inner flared end 33 of the spout 3a has projected fromdiametrically opposite edges the upper and lower pivot-ears 35, having apivotal engagement with the upper and lower pivot-pins 31 of the pivotaljoint-ring 30. The upper of said pivot-ears 35 of the stacking-spout isprovided with a T-shaped slot 35, having a detachable engagement withthe upper of said pins 31, While at the same time preventing thestacking-spout from becoming disengaged from the joint-ring while beingadjusted up and down or laterally, and the lower of said pivot-ears 35is provided in its end with a notch 36, loosely engaging over the-lowerof said pins 31 above its crosspiece 32. The connection just describedbetween the stacking-spout and the deliveryneck 28 forms a gimbal-jointto permit of the lateral and vertical oscillation of the stacking-spout34:.

A single adjusting-cable 36 provides for the Vertical adjustment oroscillation of the spout 34, and said cable is connected at its The dis-1 outer end, as at 37, with the spout 34 and winds and unwinds at itsinner end on the Windlass or adjusting-shaft 38, mounted in suitablehearings on top of the thresher-casing and carrying at one end anoperatingcrank 39. The intermediate portion of the adjusting-cable 36 isheld elevated out of the way by the standard 40, hinged at its lowerend, as at 41, to the top of the thresher-casing and carrying at itsupper end a guide-pulley 42, over which the cable 36 passes. hen thestacker is not in use, the standard 40 can be readily folded down on topof the threshercasing.

A pair of oppositely-arranged cables 1 :3 are employed for swinging oroscillating the stacking-spout 34 in a lateral direction. The oppositecables 43 are respectively connected at one end, as at as, to oppositesides of the spout 3st, and pass around the guide-pulleys as at theouter ends of the laterally-extended spreader-bars 46, which spread thecables 43 away from opposite sides of the stacking devices, and arepivotally connected at their in ner ends, as at 4:7, to thedelivery-neck 28, so as to be capable of being folded inward over thespouts 27 when the apparatus is not in use.

The inner ends of the oppositely-arranged cables 43 respectively wind indifferent directions on the Windlass or adjusting-shaft 48, journaled insuitable bearings on top of the thresher-casing and carrying at one endan operating-crank 49. By turning the shaft 48 in either direction thestacking-spout 34 may be oscillated on its vertical axis or pivots tosecure the desired adjustment. \Vhen not in use, the spout 3a isdisconnected from the upper and lower pivot-pins 31, carried by thejoint-ring 3,0, and is laid on top of the thresher out of the way. Iffound necessary, a canvas or other flexible closure-piece 50 may besuitably fitted to the inner flared end of the stackingspout and thedelivery-neck 28 to prevent the backward escape of air at this point.

Changes in the form, proportion, and the .minor details of constructionmaybe resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificingany of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed, and desired to besecured by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of athreshing-machine having a transversestraw-chamber at the rear end of its casing, said chamber being of v agreater diameter or width at its central portion than at the sides ofthe thresher-casing, a pair of oppositely-located fan-casings arrangedat opposite ends of the straw-chamber and communicating therewith, saidfan-casin g having rearwardly-converging'dischargespouts leading to acommon stacking-spout, a single fan-shaft extending longitudinallythrough the straw chamber, oppositely-located rotary fans mounted on theshaft and within the central enlarged or widened portion of thestraw-chamber, said arms being of a greater length than the fan-bladesso as to extend close to the discharging-pointof the straw-carrier ofthe thresher and provide for pulling the straw into the suction of theopposite fans, substantially as set forth.

2. In a pneumatic straw-stacker, the combination with a threshin-machine; of a pair of fan-casings arranged at opposite sides of therear end of the thresher-casing and provid ed withrearwardly-convergentdischargespouts leading to a common delivery-neck, rotary fans workingin said fan-casings, a vertically and laterally swinging stacking-spouthaving a gimbal-joint connection at its inner end with saiddelivery-neck, a pair of windlasses mounted on top of thethresher-casing,

a single adj listing-cable winding and unwinding at one end on one ofthe windlasses and connected at its other end with the stackingspout, afolding standard mounted on top of in different directions on the otherof said windlasses, substantially as set forth.

, 3. In a pneumatic straw-stacker, the combination with athreshing-machine; of a pair of fan-casings arranged at opposite sidesof the rear end of the thresher and having rearwardly-convergentdischarge-spouts leading to a common delivery-neck, said deliveryneckbeing provided at diametrically opposite sides with horizontalpivot-studs, a pivotal joint-ring loosely encircling said neck andpivotally mounted on said pivot-studs, said joint-ring being provided atdiametrically opposite upper and lower sides with upper and lowerpivot-pins, and a vertically and laterally swinging stacking-spoutprovided with an inner flared end having projected from diametricallyopposite edges upper and lower pivot-ears detachably and pivotallyengaging with the pivot-pins of said joint-ring, and means for adjustingsaid stacking-spout laterally and vertically, substantially as setforth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM J. iaANnoLPi-I.

YVitnesses:

Isaac D. WILLIAMs, C. L. PARDEE.

